A handful of scouts for contending teams came to see Noah Syndergaard pitch Wednesday night at Citi Field.
They were treated to a course on why the Mets are no longer contenders themselves.
Syndergaard was solid, even if erratic with a career-high-tying five walks, but he did not get any help from his shoddy defense or wasteful offense as the Mets fell to the Padres 7-2.
A three-run, two-error top of the third inning was too much to overcome for the Mets (46-55), who left the bases loaded twice on the way to their fourth loss in six games after a four-game winning streak.
With scouts from the Yankees, Phillies, Cubs, Braves, Dodgers and Rays in attendance, Syndergaard flashed some of the talent inquiring teams are intrigued by across his seven innings of work. He was also unable to turn in a third straight dominant start, failing to put batters away in key situations during his second-to-last scheduled outing before next Wednesday’s trade deadline.
Syndergaard gave up eight hits, four runs (three earned) and five walks (one intentional), but struck out eight. He retired 13 of the final 17 batters he faced against a team that has had interest in the pitcher, who is under Mets control through 2021. General manager Brodie Van Wagenen has said he expects to keep Syndergaard, but with high-end pitchers thin on the trade market, his name continues to come up.
“I haven’t really had much of a discussion with the front office as far as the future of me being a Met,” Syndergaard said. “But as of right now, I’m more than happy where I’m at right now and I look forward to continuing to put on this jersey.”
Things got sloppy in the top of the third, when the Padres broke a 1-1 tie and took the lead for good. After striking out Fernando Tatis Jr., Syndergaard issued back-to-back walks on nine pitches to Manuel Margot and Manny Machado. Margot stole second and third, setting him up to score on Eric Hosmer’s sacrifice fly. Jeff McNeil’s throw from right field would have been close, but the one-hopper got past catcher Tomas Nido, advancing Machado to second.
Hunter Renfroe then knocked in Machado on an 0-2 count with a single to left field, where Dominic Smith ran past the ball, allowing Renfroe to take second.
“It’s very frustrating,” Smith said. “It doesn’t matter how much you practice. Live in-game reps are the only things that are going to get you better.”
Franmil Reyes capped off the rally and made it 4-1 by ripping a 1-2 pitch for an RBI double to left field, which resulted in another error from Smith as his throw back to the infield sailed wide of the cutoff man.
Michael Conforto doubled to lead off the bottom of the third and came around to score to cut the deficit to 4-2. But the Mets did not get another base runner until Amed Rosario doubled with one out in the seventh. They went on to load the bases with two outs, but Conforto could not capitalize, striking out to end the threat.
The Mets had squandered their other big chance in the first inning. McNeil doubled and scored on Conforto’s single for the 1-0 lead before they loaded the bases with two outs, only for Rosario to fly out.
The first run Syndergaard allowed came in the second inning, when he had Austin Hedges 0-2 with two outs and gave up a single that tied the game.
“It’s just been the No. 1 problem all year, execution,” said Syndergaard, who lowered his ERA to 4.33. “Just going out there and trying to win every pitch. Tonight was just a battle for me.”
